Hematology Frontier

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive lymphoma with high malignancy and poor treatment outcomes, especially for elderly patients or those in poor health. Optimizing treatment regimens for these patient groups is crucial. At the recent 29th European Hematology Association (EHA) annual meeting, Dr. Michael Wang from University of Texas MD Anderson, Houston, USA presented the latest results from the phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled ECHO trial (LB3439), which evaluated the efficacy of acalabrutinib combined with bendamustine and rituximab in treatment-naïve MCL patients. "Oncology Frontier - Hematology Frontier" interviewed Professor Wang to interpret these groundbreaking findings.

The 29th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Meeting was successfully held in Madrid, Spain, from June 13 to 16, 2024. As the largest international conference in the field of hematology in Europe, it annually attracts experts and scholars from around the world to share and discuss innovative ideas and the latest scientific and clinical research results in hematology. At this year's conference, several studies from Dr. He Huang's team at The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were selected for poster presentations. These studies, covering both basic and clinical research, provide new perspectives and theoretical foundations for the treatment of hematological diseases. This article introduces five of these studies, including the impact of telomere length on transplant prognosis, the role of lactate in acute graft-versus-host disease, the regulatory mechanisms of hematopoietic endothelial cell (HECs) generation, breakthroughs in CD7 CAR-T therapy for T-cell malignancies, and the prospects of XPO1 inhibitors in the treatment of Burkitt lymphoma.

The European Hematology Association (EHA) annual meeting, one of the most influential international academic conferences in the field of hematology, gathers numerous experts and scholars worldwide every year. The aim is to share and deeply discuss innovative ideas and the latest scientific and clinical research advancements in hematology, thereby promoting continuous progress in the field. This year’s conference unveiled the latest results from studies on the use of the erythroid maturation agent luspatercept in the treatment of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS), demonstrating promising therapeutic potential. Oncology Frontier - Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Chungkang Chang , Director of the Hematology Department at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Blood Research Institute, to provide an in-depth analysis of the field's current status and research content, aiming to offer valuable references for clinical practice.

In the field of lymphoma diagnosis and treatment, traditional methods such as tissue biopsy, while valuable, are increasingly showing limitations due to their invasive nature, inconvenience in repeated sampling, and inability to fully reflect tumor heterogeneity. Liquid biopsy, as an emerging non-invasive testing technology, is demonstrating great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma. At the recently held "The 8th Hematologic Oncology Academic Conference of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)", Dr. Davide Rossi from the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Bellinzona shared exciting insights on "The Role of Liquid Biopsy (ctDNA) in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Lymphomas". "Hematology Frontier" specially invited Dr. Davide Rossi for an interview at the venue to further delve into this topic.

In order to further improve the diagnostic and treatment level of leukemia and lymphoma in China, "The 8th Hematologic Oncology Academic Conference of CSCO," co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), the Leukemia Expert Committee of CSCO, and the Lymphoma Expert Committee, and co-organized by the Harbin Hematological Tumor Research Institute and Peking University Cancer Hospital, was grandly held in Harbin from July 26 to 28. The conference aims to build an important platform for in-depth learning and extensive exchange for many experts and scholars in the field of hematologic oncology. On the occasion of the conference, "Hematology Frontier" specially invited Dr. Owen O'Connor, Chairman of the American Lymphoma Alliance and the University of Virginia Cancer Center, to conduct in-depth academic discussions and share exciting insights around the cutting-edge progress of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL).

Multiple myeloma (MM) has long been a focus of hematology research due to its complex nature and the challenges it presents in treatment. As treatment methods continue to advance and new drugs emerge, patient survival rates and quality of life are receiving unprecedented attention. In this context, the accurate measurement of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) becomes increasingly important. It not only helps us gain a deeper understanding of patients’ real experiences but also provides guidance for developing more precise treatment strategies. At the 29th Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2024), held from June 13-16, Dr. Edward Laane from Tartu University in Estonia presented groundbreaking research that not only made significant strides in MM treatment but also offered new perspectives and methods for the standardization of PRO measurements. Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Edward Laane to share his team’s research findings and his special insights from the conference.

The "News Express" column aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and clinical practice, enabling hematology enthusiasts and professionals to quickly grasp industry trends, spark innovative thinking, and broaden their professional horizons. Hematology News carefully curates the latest hematological research findings from top global journals. Each selected article represents a fusion of science and clinical practice, delivering the essence of hematology's advancements straight to you. Let knowledge transcend boundaries, and exploration never cease. We invite you to follow the column and join global hematology elites on a journey of scientific discovery! This issue features a case report from Haematologica on VHL-associated congenital polycythemia (CP).

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with atypical clinical presentations, leading to high rates of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in clinical practice. There is an urgent need to improve the current status of diagnosis and treatment. Recently, the "2024 Northern Hematology and Oncology Immunotherapy Conference," hosted by the Tianjin Society of Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, was held grandly in the northern coastal city of Tianjin. The conference brought together renowned hematology experts from across the country, focusing on the immunotherapy of hematologic malignancies. They explored the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of various hematologic sub-specialties, the pathogenesis of hematologic tumors, and progress in immunotherapy. At the conference, Dr. Bing Xu from The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University delivered an outstanding report titled "Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma—Interpretation of the 2023 Chinese Expert Consensus," providing crucial guidance for comprehensively understanding and recognizing this disease. Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Bing Xu to share further insights on this topic.

While radiotherapy is the recommended first-line treatment for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, for certain non-gastric MALT lymphomas in specific locations, radiotherapy may result in significant side effects that can affect patients' quality of life. Recently, the "2024 Northern Hematology and Oncology Immunotherapy Conference," hosted by the Tianjin Society of Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, was held grandly in the northern coastal city of Tianjin. The conference brought together renowned hematology experts from across the country, focusing on the immunotherapy of hematologic malignancies. They explored the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of various hematologic sub-specialties, the pathogenesis of hematologic tumors, and progress in immunotherapy. At the conference, Dr. Jun Shi from Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, delivered an insightful presentation titled "Treatment Options for Localized Non-Gastric MALT Lymphoma," offering valuable guidance for optimizing the treatment of this disease. Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Jun Shi to further discuss this topic.

On July 20, 2024, the 5th Lymphoma & Myeloma Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy Conference, part of the Gaobo Medical Academic Conference, was successfully held in Beijing. With the core themes of "Precision, Integration, and Innovation," the conference closely followed the latest developments and cutting-edge topics from the 29th Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2024) and the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. During the event, Dr. Kai Fu from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center delivered an insightful presentation on "Progress Reports From the Northern American MCL Consortium." In an exclusive interview with Hematology Frontier, Professor Fu discussed the research progress of the North American Mantle Cell Lymphoma Program (NAMCLP) and the significance of a novel prognostic model for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The following is a summary of the interview.